Hyderabad: Though maintaining that the entry of Telugu film actor Chiranjeevi would not adversely affect the party, the Congress party discussed the issue at Wednesday’s CLP meeting in which three Kapu ministers - Botsa Satyanarayana, Mandali Buddha Prasad and Kanna Lakshminarayana - were present.

Other Kapu leaders like Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Konthala Ramakrishna could not attend. Legislators who were present at the meet included V Vasanta Kumar, Veda Vyas and Kottu Satyanarayana (all BC leaders).

Party insiders say while a couple of middle-level Kapu and BC leaders may walk over to the new outfit immediately, many seniors may join forces with him, if at all, later. “What Chiranjeevi is igniting is not mere political awareness among the Kapus. He is attempting to realise a 50-year dream of the Kapus standing on a par with the Reddys and Kammas,” said a Kapu MLA from the Congress.

Among the BCs who may be attracted to Chiranjeevi’s party include Mahbubnagar MP D Vittal Rao and MLA Puli Veeranna.